Palm Beach County business group gets more taxpayer money

Banking that it takes money to make money, Palm Beach County plans to invest $200,000 more in the Business Development Board.

The County Commission on Tuesday agreed to provide the $200,000 in taxpayer money for a new marketing campaign intended to lure more businesses and jobs to Palm Beach County.

While Palm Beach County budget cutbacks have left less money for everything from road repairs to parks, the Business Development Board is getting its second big county cash infusion this month.

Just two weeks after approving an extended 5-year, $5 million deal to help fund the Business Development Board, the County Commission on Tuesday tacked on $200,000 for the new marketing campaign.

"There's nothing more important we can do here [than] create jobs," Commissioner Paulette Burdick said.

The Business Development Board works as the county's economic development arm, helping recruit new businesses and encouraging existing companies to expand.

The BDB gets about half of its annual funding from the county, raising the rest from private backers.

The extra $200,000 from the county enables stepped up marketing efforts when many cities and counties are scaling back economic development spending due to the economy, according to Kelly Smallridge, BDB president and CEO.

"This presents Palm Beach County with an opportunity to fill the gaps left by our competitors," Smallridge said.

The group plans to raise another $200,000 in private money to match the county's investment in the marketing campaign.

Plans for the marketing money include producing a quarterly magazine about the county, buying trade show materials and working with a consultant on a digital marketing campaign.

The BDB plans to use the money to attend business conventions that include events targeting biotech and aviation companies.

Also, the group proposes a "Behind the Gates" strategy to luring companies with CEOs who have vacation homes in Palm Beach County, but don't bring their businesses.

The plan calls for building a database of those CEOs and using a team of local CEOs who do have local companies to help recruit those out-of-town businesses. A consultant would be hired to help with the sales pitch.

On Tuesday, Commissioner Steven Abrams cast the only vote against the $200,000 extra for the BDB, citing the county's budget strain.

The BDB needs to be more open about how it spends taxpayer money, community activist Alex Larson said.

The companies being recruited are often kept anonymous until deals are done.

"We don't know what it is they are bringing in," Larson said about the BDB. "People are going to be demanding proof."

One of the BDB's recent successes was helping land the Aldi grocery store chain. Aldi this month announced it would build a $50 million warehouse and regional headquarters in Royal Palm Beach, with plans to add 20 stores in Palm Beach County. Aldi's would eventually employee 100 workers, according to the company.